58th Reaping D8

It was peculiar how one dramatic experience could bring a group of people together so much. It could bring a group that loathed each other so much, or two people that were complete opposites, together in so many unexpected ways. It would change the way you saw people, causing you to see the world in many different perspectives on life. And that was exactly what was happening to Thalia's family. The Reaping that was being held that morning was pulling the family together in many ways. No longer was there the frequent yelling and laughter, nor the scolding that was ordinarily heard coming from their mother.

Today, the children sat quietly as they cleaned themselves up. The only sound that was heard in the old house was the creaking floorboard and the muffled sniffs that sounded from their mother, Lila's room. Each reaping she was heard crying, the sound filled with grief and sadness, each cry setting the mood for the whole family. Some of the younger children were unnerved by it, their hands clasping together nervously. Each of the six children cast glances at each other, their worry and sadness reflecting into one another's eyes.

Thalia walked among the younger children, calmly fixing their dresses and nice clothes. She gently and elegantly braided the girl's hair, her long fingers working quickly in the knotted hair. She forced her gaze to remain steady and strong for the others, not allowing any sadness to seep into them, for she knew she was the oldest one of the seven children. They all looked up to her for guidance, even if she wasn't related to them by blood. Little did they know that each night she allowed herself to collapse within herself, her cries muffled by the torn pillow beneath her.

It wasn't until Lila walked out that they all moved from their stiff positions. One by one, they filed out of the door, their footsteps sounding loudly on the broken floorboards. Thalia let her fingertips graze gently against the wooden walls, trying her best to touch all she could before the reaping. There was always a fear that her name would be called, and she would be swept away without being allowed to enter her childhood home again. She did her best to let her gaze wander over every little detail as if to bring all of it with her to wherever she would be carried off to.

Thalia slowly drifted out of her worries as a bony hand fell on her shoulder, the hand squeezing gently to comfort her anxious thoughts. "Everything'll be alright" Lila said softly, her words drifting up into the silence, her gentle tone casting warmth through her cold form. Thalia couldn't help but smile at the words, though she knew they were filled with doubt, and the sadness that was etched clearly across her face was easily noticed.

She stepped out of the door, her eyes squinting as the blinding light glinted brightly into them. The heat immediatly beat down on her, though it was welcoming to the young teenager. There was a familiar sense to it as she walked down the empty streets, not allowing herself to look into the grave faces of people in the windows. The sun's intense rays brought hope to the horrible situation, the warmth that seped through her not allowing her to worry about anything. She almost imagined her mother speaking into her ear, her whisper spreading life into her tortured form.

Thalia glanced around, holding onto the hands of her siblings as they entered the crowded section of the district. All that was heard was the urgent whispers; all that was seen was the grim and hollow faces. She grasped her hands tightly around her siblings, leading them quickly to their sections. Her gaze traveled down to their tiny faces, seeing the tears swelling up in the corners of their eyes, the way their lips trembled as they attempted to speak. It was that sight that sent her bending down, gathering them up in a tight hold, as if she could protect them from everything that would happen. "I love you, everything will be alright," she whispered, knowing the moment the words left her moutht hat they were lies.

Finally, she forced herself to leave the holds of her siblings, her hand slowly falling from the grasp of her little brother. He attempted to lunge for her, though someone had already stepped in and blocked his way. A sob escaped her throat as she stared at where he previously was, part of her wondering if it would be the last time she saw him. Her throat seemed to tighten as she turned from the spot, her chest feeling as if with each breath, it was on the verge of exploding. Worry and desperation filled her gaze as her footsteps led her to her spot, her mind finally beginning to pay attention to what was happening.

Thalia's eyes scanned the crowd, not even knowing who she was searching for until memories flashed before her mind. Sebastian. The more she scanned the crowd of people, the more it seemed that it would be impossible to find him. Still, she couldn't help the worry that spread through her and wrapped around her thoughts like a tentacle, squeezing her mind until every emotion seemed to spill out of it at once. If he was reaped, she would lose the one person who truly understood her, the one person who experienced himself what she went through. The one she actually had feelings for.

It wasn't until the mayor began to speak, that she allowed her attention to be directed toward the stage. The words he spoke didn't matter to her, for all she wanted to hear was that her family and friends would be safe. "Ladies first!" the mayor spoke, his voice sending annoyance flooding through every pore of her body. "Charlotte McAfee!" Thalia didn't allow herself to breathe a sigh of relief, though there were many sounds of it surrounding her. She had to put others before herself, for even then there was a feeling of grief for the girl that had been called.

Thalia focused on the next words, the sound of them familiar to her ears, the name the reason why she her heart seemed to skip a beat. "Sebastian Miller!" Suddenly every other person seemed to disappear, leaving only her as she watched Sebastian leave the enclosure of his age group. There was a pounding in her ears, the sound of her heartbeat being the only sound that she was focusing on.

"No. No. No There has to be a mistake" she murmured continuously, not even noticing as she ducked under her enclosure, her footsteps leading her to Sebastian. "You can't go. Sebastian, y-you can't leave me" her words were beginning to make no sense as she reached him, ignoring the peacekeepers as they rushed to pull her away. Her hands found his arm for a few seconds, her eyes finding his as they pleaded for him to stay, though she knew fully well she had no control over it. Tears glistened on her scarred cheeks, her lips trembling like her younger siblings as they watched her go. There was a feeling of loss inside her, the feeling she received the moment her mother was murdered. It was an overwhelming feeling, one that almost always sent her on the verge on insanity. A feeling of losing a loved one, one whom you truly cared about.

"Be safe" she whispered.